I prefer to work on as much as I can with what resources I have. This all started with being unable to unscrew some corroded bolts from the water pump to engine block. I tried everything, but didn't have the torque to break them free. That's why the mechanic was called, who poked around while trying to break them free and says he noticed the oil pan problem. I will try to get more straight answers about it - it's hard to get a mechanic to say what actually needs to be done (because it means I now know the steps to do it myself)

Anyways, the water pump was leaking salt water all around before I owned the boat, but I'm confident that is the only source of salt water corrosion around the engine.

The pictures posted are helpful, yes the engine is under the settee and the galley in the Catalina 30.

I'll get down there with a light and look more, try to get clear answers from the mechanic. I'd really hate to haul out the boat and do this... I'm a full-time liveaboard, and this is a financially tight season.

Has anyone ever seen the method of raising the engine with the mainsheet/chain/winches? Is that extremely dangerous or practical?

----The full story about the water pump, is: 1st trip, they couldn't get the bolts off. 2nd trip they came back with a blowtorch but got the bolts off with bigger wrenches, breaking 1 bolt, then ran out of time. 3rd trip back they had four bolts and my new pump, and dropped a bolt in the bilge "unable to recover it". 4th trip they came back with a single bolt and finished the job.----

I was able it drop my oil pan between my engine mounts, and remove it, without unbolting the engine. It all depends how much room you have .If it looks doable, don't give up without trying it . I almost did. Glad I tried it first .

Speaking of oil pans, what are the Yanmar pans made of? My Yanmar 3gmd has a lot of iron/steel rust from a cockpit drain leak. The oil pan "looks" ok but no way to know for sure as access is really tight.

Material looks to be aluminum. Is this right? How corrosion resistant would the aluminum be (if that is what it is)? Note I see rusted (steel) bolts that are holding the oil pan that looks to be aluminum (some what appears to be white powder corrosion by-product).

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